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2019 Competition Artists Announcement

2019 Competition Artists Announcement

The competition artists for the 15TH Annual Plein Air Easton Competition & Arts Festival have been announced. During this weeklong outdoor art festival, scores of painters, collectors, and art enthusiasts descend on Easton and Talbot County, bringing their own flavor of excitement and spontaneity that surrounds art created en plein air (French for “in the open air”). The event has become recognized as one of the largest and most prestigious Plein Air events in the world.

A large part of the appeal of plein air competitions are the fresh perspectives continually generated by a varied group of artists each year. Plein Air Easton prides itself on being a competition where the possibility of winning the grand prize is available to any artist – no matter what your skill set or level of accomplishment in the art community.

More than 230 artists applied from across the U.S., Canada, Europe and Australia. Sixteen of the 58 artists selected are brand new to the competition. “Our 15th year promises to be exciting,” says PAE coordinator Marie Nuthall, “this year’s artist’s group hail from 23 different states and one from Norway. We have several artists we haven’t seen in quite some time and we’re looking forward to having them back as well as the masterful artists from 2018 that are returning” The following 58 artists have been selected to compete in the 15TH Annual Plein Air Easton competition to be held July 14-21, 2019.

Plein Air Easton is judged by some of the most knowledgeable and informed experts in the world of representational art. This year’s entry juror, who selected which artists will be competing in Plein Air Easton, was Daniel Weiss, President and CEO of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Mr. Weiss will also host a talk on July 18 in the Avalon Theatre. This will be a ticketed event and is presented by Troika Gallery.

Plein Air Easton is the work of the Avalon Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to foster a strong community on the Eastern Shore by creating accessible, uplifting arts, education, and cultural experiences that appeal to the interests of a diverse population and to ensure the long term viability of the historic Avalon Theatre.

The Academy Art Museum and the Armory/Waterfowl Headquarters will be the venues for the competition exhibit. This event is supported by Talbot County Arts Council, donations from corporations, small businesses, media outlets, Friends of Plein Air Easton, and strong community support. Donations support the event while promoting conservation and tourism through the arts and a distinct sense of place. Strong community support and sponsorships have helped make Plein Air Easton one of Easton's most popular annual events and the nation’s largest outdoor painting competition.